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United States Patent |
5,680,800
|
Sharpe
|
October 28, 1997
|
Socket drive extension grip
Abstract
A socket drive extension grip for securing to a socket drive extension to
provide greater flexibility to the use of a socket tool. The socket drive
extension includes a handle, a shaft tube secured within the handle and
for receiving the shaft of a socket drive extension and a clamping device
for securely holding the socket drive extension within the handle and
shaft tube and preventing the shaft from rotating.
Inventors:
|
Sharpe; Jon B. (5218 Pleasant Ridge Rd., Knoxville, Knox County, TN 37912)
|
Appl. No.:
|
558076 |
Filed:
|
November 13, 1995 |
Current U.S. Class: |
81/177.2; 81/437 |
Intern'l Class: |
B25B 023/16 |
Field of Search: |
81/177.1,177.2,437
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
1161270 | Nov., 1915 | Vance.
| |
4350064 | Sep., 1982 | Markle | 81/177.
|
5005448 | Apr., 1991 | Main | 81/63.
|
5299475 | Apr., 1994 | Stroop | 81/489.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
1147176 | May., 1983 | CA | 81/177.
|
Primary Examiner: Smith; James G.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pitts & Brittian, P.C.
Claims
I claim:
1. A socket drive extension grip for being secured to a socket drive
extension, the socket drive extension defining a male head, a female head
and a shaft, said socket drive extension grip comprising:
a handle defining a first end, a second end and an opening extending
between said first end and said second end, said handle for gripping with
a user's hand;
a shaft robe dimensioned to be closely received within and coaxial with
said opening of said handle, said shaft tube being configured to receive
the shaft of the socket drive extension; and
a clamping device for releasably securing the shaft of the socket drive
extension within said shaft tube and for preventing said socket drive
extension from rotating in said shaft tube.
2. The socket drive extension grip of claim 1 wherein said handle defines a
countersunk area proximate said second end thereof for receiving the
female head of the socket drive extension.
3. The socket drive extension grip of claim 1 wherein said clamping device
includes a set screw receivable by a threaded opening defined by said
handle and said shaft tube, said set screw contacting a portion of the
shaft of the socket drive extension and wedging the shaft in said shaft
tube.
4. The socket drive extension grip of claim 1 wherein said clamping device
includes a first set screw and a second set screw, said handle and said
shaft tube defining a first threaded opening and a second threaded
opening, said first threaded opening and said second threaded opening
disposed approximately 180 degrees from one another, said first set screw
being received by said first threaded opening, said second set screw being
received by said second threaded opening, said first set screw and said
second set screw contacting opposing sides of the shaft of the socket
extension drive thereby wedging the shaft therebetween.
5. A socket drive extension grip for securing to a socket drive extension,
the socket drive extension includes a male head, a female head and a
shaft, said socket drive extension grip comprising:
a handle defining a first end, a second end and an opening extending
between said first end and said second end, said handle for gripping with
a user's hand;
a shaft, tube dimensioned to be closely received within and coaxial with
said opening of said handle, said shaft tube configured to receive the
shaft of the socket drive extension, said shaft tube defining an extended
portion extending above said first end of said handle, said extended
portion defining at least two slots extending in an axial manner thereby
forming at least two tube sections, said extended portion defining a
tapered thread;
a clamping device for releasably securing the shaft of the socket drive
extension within said shaft tube and for preventing said socket drive
extension from rotating in said shaft tube, said clamping device including
said shaft tube extended portion and a clamping nut receivable by said
tapered thread, said clamping nut forcing said at least two tube sections
inward against the shaft of the socket drive extension as said clamping
nut is screwed onto said tapered thread thereby preventing the shaft of
the socket drive extension from rotating in said shaft tube.
6. The socket drive extension grip of claim 5 wherein said handle defines a
countersunk area proximate said second end thereof for receiving the
female head of the socket drive extension.
7. A socket drive extension grip for securing to a socket drive extension,
the socket drive extension includes a male head, a female head and a
shaft, said socket drive extension grip comprising:
a handle defining a first end, a second end and an opening extending
between said first end and said second end, said handle for gripping with
a user's hand;
a shaft tube dimensioned to be closely received within and coaxial with
said opening of said handle, said shaft tube being configured to receive
the shaft of the socket drive extension; and
a clamping device for releasably securing the shaft of the socket drive
extension within said shaft tube and for preventing said socket drive
extension from rotating in said shaft tube, said clamping device including
a first set screw received by a first threaded opening defined by said
handle and said shaft tube, said first set screw contacting a portion of
the shaft of the socket drive extension and wedging the shaft in said
shaft tube.
8. The socket drive extension grip of claim 7 wherein said handle defines a
countersunk area proximate said second end thereof for receiving the
female head of the socket drive extension.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the field of tool apparatus and more
specifically, to a hand grip sleeve for a socket tool.
BACKGROUND ART
Socket wrenches are utilized to screw in bolts in a more efficient manner
than using a traditional wrench. As with any tool, a socket wrench has its
limitations. The rachet driver associated with the socket wrench is not
useable in limited spaces. Further, when taking up bolt slack, using the
rachet driver is highly inefficient.
Several hand grips have been produced which are used with tools. Typical of
the art are those devices disclosed in the following U.S. Patents:
______________________________________
U.S. Pat. No. Inventor(s) Issue Date
______________________________________
1,161,270 W. A. Vance Nov. 23, 1915
5,005,448 H. M. Main April 9, 1991
5,299,475 J. A. Stroop April 5, 1994
______________________________________
The '270 patent teaches an auxiliary handle for tools which is secured upon
a handle of an existing handle of a tool. The handle is intended to absorb
any shocks or jars incident to the use of the tool. Also, the handle
provides a firmer grip.
The '448 patent teaches a speed wrench and a hand grip combination. The
speed wrench is a new tool and the hand grip is configured to receive the
outer surface of the speed wrench.
The '475 patent teaches a tool and adjustable handgrip wherein a tool
includes a first and second handle sleeve which are removable to provide
for handgrips of various thicknesses. The handgrip is not intended to
provide an alternative method for using a particular tool.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a socket
drive extension grip for use with a socket drive extension to provide
greater flexibility in the socket's use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a socket drive
extension grip which when secured to a socket drive extension provides
sufficient torque.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a socket drive
extension grip which is configured to receive either end of a socket drive
extension such that the grip can be utilized in combination with a rachet
driver.
SUMMARY
Other objects and advantages will be accomplished by the present invention
which provides a socket drive extension grip for securing to a socket
drive extension. The socket drive extension grip defines a shaft tube
secured within a handle and a clamping device for securing the handle and
shaft tube to the shaft of the socket drive extension and preventing the
socket drive extension from rotating in the shaft tube.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly
understood from the following detailed description of the invention read
together with the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of the socket drive extension grip received by a
socket drive extension construction in accordance with several features of
the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of the socket drive extension
grip of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the socket drive extension grip taken
at 3--3 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the socket drive extension grip
illustrating an alternate clamping device.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A socket drive extension grip incorporating various features of the present
invention is illustrated generally at 10 in the figures. The socket drive
extension grip 10 is designed to be used in conjunction with a socket
drive extension 50 to provide greater flexibility in the socket tool's
use. Moreover, in the preferred embodiment, the socket drive extension
grip 10 is designed to be secured to the socket drive extension 50 in a
manner such that sufficient torque can be imparted to the drive extension
50.
The socket drive extension grip 10 is generally comprised of a handle 12, a
shaft tube 22 and a clamping device 32, as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The handle
12 is configured to be easily gripped. The shaft tube 22 is mounted within
the handle 12 and is configured to closely receive a socket drive
extension 50, as shown in the Figures. The clamping device 32 serves to
secure the handle 12 to the socket drive extension 50 when the handle 12
is positioned in the desired location along the socket drive extension 50.
The handle 12 is configured to be easily and comfortably gripped by a user.
In the preferred embodiment, the handle 12 is fabricated from plastic and
preferably is formed through an injection mold process. In one embodiment,
the corners are rounded and the outside diameter is 1.125 inches. The
handle defines a first end 17, a second end 18, and an opening 19
extending between the first and second ends 17, 18 for receiving the shaft
tube 22, shown clearly in FIG. 2. The handle 12 defines a recessed area 14
approximately one half inch from the first end 17 to provide an anchor
point for the index finger of the user. In the preferred embodiment, the
handle 12 is 41/2 inches in length and hexagonal in shape.
It is preferable that a socket drive extension grip 10 is produced in 3
sizes to fit a 1/4 inch drive extension 50, a 3/8 inch drive extension 50,
and a 1/2 inch drive extension 50. For a 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch socket
drive extension 50, the handle 12 defines a countersunk area 16 for the
head 52 of the socket drive extension 50. The diameter of the countersunk
area 16 is determined by the size of the socket drive extension 50: for a
1/4 inch drive the diameter is 0.500 inches and for a 3/8 inch drive the
diameter is 0.750 inches. The upper end of a 1/2 inch socket drive
extension grip has a chamfered area (not shown) for the neck of the drive
extension such that the head of the extension protrudes above the handle.
The shaft tube 22 is joined to the handle 12, preferably during the
injection molding process. In the preferred embodiment, the shaft tube 22
is fabricated from a suitable rigid material such as cold rolled steel or
the like. The shaft tube 22 is 3 inches in length and manufactured from
0.100 inch thick sheet material. The shaft tube 22 has slots pressed into
its outside diameter to provide gripping points for the handle 12 during
the molding process. The inner diameter of the shaft tube 22 is determined
by the socket drive extension 50, the inner diameter is 0.325 inches for a
1/4 inch drive; 0.500 inches for a 3/8 inch drive; and 0.750 inches for a
1/2 inch drive.
The clamping device 32 serves to lock the handle 12 in position. A first
embodiment of the clamping device 32 is shown most clearly in FIG. 3. A
set of threaded openings 36 is defined by the handle 12 and shaft 22. The
openings 36 are set 180 degrees apart. Each of the openings 36 is
configured to receive a set screw 34. In one embodiment, the set screws 34
are 1/4-24 carbon steel Grade 5 allen head set screws. Preferably, the set
screws 34 are 3/8 inches long. When the set screws 34 are tightened
against the drive extension shaft 56, the resulting friction prevents the
shaft 56 from spinning with respect to the handle 12 for all torques below
40 foot-pounds.
In an alternate embodiment, the handle 12 and the shaft tube 22 define one
threaded opening 36 for receiving a set screw 34. When the set screw 34 is
inserted, the shaft 56 of the socket drive extension 50 is wedged within
the shaft tube 22.
A second embodiment of the clamping device 32 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The
shaft tube 22 defines an extended portion 24 into which a tapered thread
26 is cut. The extended portion 24 defines at least two slots extending in
the direction of the axis to form at least two tube sections 29. In the
preferred embodiment, the shaft tube 22 defines four slots 28 thereby
forming four tube sections 29, as shown in FIG. 4. Preferably, the slots
28 are of sufficient length to allow adequate clamping for a range of
shaft diameters and 90 degrees apart. The tapered thread 26 receives a
clamp nut 38. As the clamp nut 38 is tightened on the tapered thread 26,
the tube sections 29 created by the slots 28 in the shaft tube 22 are
forced against the socket drive extension shaft 50, with the resulting
friction preventing the shaft 50 from spinning with respect to the handle
12. In the preferred embodiment, the clamp nut 38 is fabricated from
carbon steel Grade 5. Preferably, it is hexagonal in shape.
The socket drive extension grip 10 is utilized by sliding the grip 10 over
the socket drive extension 50 and then tightening the clamp device 32. The
socket drive extension grip 10 can be utilized in one of three ways. In a
first use, a rachet driver is used as before with the socket drive
extension grip 10 in place. In a second use, the socket drive extension
grip 10 is used as a screwdriver-type driver for screwing in bolts.
Finally, in a third use, the socket drive extension grip 10 is used in
conjunction with a rachet driver for combination use.
From the foregoing description, it will be recognized by those skilled in
the art that a socket drive extension grip offering advantages over the
prior art has been provided. Specifically, the socket drive extension grip
provides greater flexibility to the use of a socket tool.
While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, it will be
understood that it is not intended to limit the disclosure, but rather it
is intended to cover all modifications and alternate methods falling
within the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
Having thus described the aforementioned invention,
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